LIEB BLOG

Legal Analysts

Showing posts with label unemployment insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unemployment insurance. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

NYS Bill to Allow Unemployment Benefits to Vaccine Refusal Firings

NYS Senator Alexis Weik Sponsored a bill that provides eligibility for unemployment insurance for "unemployment due to such employee's choice not to receive a coronavirus vaccine."


While this bill is nowhere near being enacted, do you agree with the Senator?


Is this bill perpetrating the spread of a deadly virus by empowering people to make stupid decisions that will lead to deaths or is it the right move to support liberty - my body my choice?


You decide - tell your NYS representatives if you support this bill or strongly oppose it!




Tuesday, September 07, 2021

New Legislation - Shared Work Program Gives Employers Flexibility to Avoid Layoffs

Struggling employers can reduce their employee's hours and those employees can offset their lost wages with unemployment insurance (UI) under the Shared Work Program, which now offers even more flexibility thanks to S.4049, which Governor Hochul signed on Labor Day (9/6/21).


The Shared Work Program provides employers with an alternative to laying off workers during business struggles by allowing employees to receive partial UI benefits while working reduced hours. 


Previously, under the Shared Work Program, employees could only collect partial UI benefits for up to 26 straight weeks, regardless of what their maximum benefit entitlement is under UI. 


Now, the new legislation changes the cap on shared work benefits from 26 straight weeks to an amount of time equal to 26 weeks' worth of benefits. In other words, employees can now collect UI benefits until they have reached their maximum benefit amount under UI. 


This change will ultimately extend the length of time a worker will receive benefits under the Shared Work Program.


According to Gov. Hochul, "these bills [workforce legislation package] will ensure that workers receive fair wages, benefits, and are kept safe in their work places." 


How big of an impact do you think this new legislation will have on workers and employers going forward? 





Thursday, April 02, 2020

“Unemployment on Steroids”: Cares Act Extends Unemployment Coverage to Independent Contractors and Provides an Additional $600 to Individuals Receiving NYS Benefits

In response to many workers losing their jobs as a result of COVID-19, the federal government is providing unemployment insurance assistance in addition to what is currently offered by the States. Some members of Congress aptly referred to the new law as “unemployment on steroids.” The law provides the following additional unemployment insurance benefits:
  • Extends eligibility to independent contractors, individuals who are self-employed, or cannot work (individuals who can telework are not covered) for a reason directly related to COVID-19. In order to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ("PUA"), you must first apply and be determined ineligible to receive New York State unemployment insurance benefits.
  • Provides an additional $600 a week to all individuals receiving State unemployment insurance benefits. In New York State, if you are receiving the minimum benefits, the maximum benefits ($504 per week) or somewhere in between, you will receive an additional $600 per week. The federal benefits are retroactive to January 27, 2020 and expires on July 31, 2020. It is unclear from the information currently available whether you are entitled to the additional $600 if you are receiving partial unemployment benefits from New York State (hours/salary are reduced by employer).
  • Provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits (NYS currently offers 26 weeks of unemployment benefits).